Is Activated Charcoal Good for your Hair?

Activated charcoal has been cited recently as featuring all kinds of benefits for human health, like teeth whitening, acne remediation, and kidney health promotion. It seems to be the latest end-all be-all treatment for a variety of health concerns and is touted as one of the best and most potent natural treatments in the world for a variety of issues. As more and more people try activated charcoal for the first time, more and more questions are raised about it. The latest one of these questions is whether it can have any positive uses for human hair. While studies are still being performed on the usefulness of activated charcoal for hair, anecdotal evidence suggests that it does indeed have a positive effect on hair cleanliness and hair growth.

Activated charcoal is effectively an absorption agent; when in activated form, its pores become large, allowing it to draw in toxins and dirt effectively. This is why it is often used for gastrointestinal issues; when consumed, it can absorb toxins in the gut and dispose of them. In the same way, activated charcoal’s porous structure makes it great for cleaning your hair of extraneous dirt and oils. While it may not look or feel especially glamorous to rub black powder all over your hair and scalp, it can indeed be helpful and hygienic to do so. Many people feel that it is an effective form of dry shampoo in that it is much more natural and useful than the kinds of dry shampoos you can buy in stores.

Through activated charcoal’s scalp cleaning abilities, another benefit is also introduced: faster hair growth. One of the main reasons that hair growth can often become stagnant is because of clogged pores and follicles on the scalp. By applying activated charcoal to the scalp, you can effectively unclog these follicles and pores and allow your hair growth to resume in a natural way. No more prescription products or chemical supplements are necessary; a simple application of activated charcoal can allow for hair growth to resume quickly.

Aside from basic hygiene for the scalp and improving hair growth, activated charcoal also features several medical benefits. As an example, it can be used as a treatment to deal with scalp infections, scalp acne, and dandruff. While it may not be powerful enough to cure a scalp infection all on its own, activated charcoal can certainly speed up the healing process.

Because of its powdered form, activated charcoal can be combined with other basic ingredients to form either a scalp scrub or a shampoo. To make an effective scalp scrub, mix two tablespoons of activated charcoal with just enough coconut oil to turn it into a paste-like mixture. Apply the paste to your scalp and massage gently. After leaving it applied for a few minutes, rinse and wash thoroughly. Creating a shampoo is just as easy, if not easier. One way to make charcoal shampoo is to simply add a small amount to your regular shampoo. However, if you want to make it separately, all you have to do is mix 2-4 tablespoons of it with two cups of liquid castile soap and three tablespoons of salt. Once it has been mixed together thoroughly and no clumps are present, you can begin to use it just like you would use any other shampoo.

Activated charcoal is one of the most powerful natural remedies in the world for a variety of ailments. Clearly, it is just as useful for hair and scalp hygiene and health.